Toni Kent

Visionary Voice in Social Mobility & Social Equity, Social Mobility Stand Up & Corporate Speaker
Toni Kent

Reasons to be Cheerful, Part 1

Reasons to be Cheerful, Part 1

Reasons to be Cheerful, Part 2

Reasons to be Cheerful, Part 2

I Need a Wife

I Need a Wife

Mr Reuben and the Mole

Mr Reuben and the Mole

Toni Kent's official speaking topics are listed below:

  • Social Mobility
  • Equity, inclusion
  • Resilience
  • Motivational
  • Inspirational
  • Overcoming Imposter Syndrome

Middle Class Gangster – The One-Woman Social Mobility Show

Give your team a keynote experience like no other as Toni delivers a one-woman show based on her social
mobility experiences that took her from council estate to corporate with plenty of comedy! Full of humour
and heart, Toni brings to life how it feels to walk the tightrope between your past and present and how to
cope with feeling like a fish out of water where you’re from, and where you find yourself. If you want your
social mobility message to stick, Toni’s performance brings teams together and brings to the fore how
courage and curiosity can break down barriers. 

The Truth About Social Mobility – From Barriers to Breakthroughs

Social mobility isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a lived experience. In this compelling keynote, Toni
unpacks the hidden challenges faced by individuals from low socio-economic backgrounds and the
structural barriers that make upward mobility far more complex than personal effort alone. She also
touches on the important fact that we can’t talk about mobility without addressing social equity
and that real progress requires a level playing field.

Through powerful storytelling, Toni shares her own journey—navigating corporate spaces, breaking
cycles, and how, through finding her voice, she’s helped thousands of people to feel less alone. This
talk goes beyond inspiration, delivering clear, actionable strategies for organisations committed to
driving meaningful change. And with a surprise finale, audiences leave engaged, entertained, and
ready to take the next step.

Key Takeaways:

  • The real-world challenges of social mobility and why social equity must be part of the conversation
  • Toni’s personal journey through corporate spaces and trying to find community
  • The structural barriers preventing equal opportunities for talent to thrive
  • Concrete actions organisations can take to foster real change
  • A surprise finale that engages and inspires

Storytelling for Success – The Power of Authentic Narratives

Your story isn’t just a personal journey—it’s a powerful tool for forging connections, unlocking
opportunities, and propelling you toward the career and life that align with your strengths. In this
inspiring session, Toni shares how she went from a council estate to the corporate world before
founding The Common Good Network, demonstrating how authenticity and optimism create lasting
impact. With an interactive audience element, attendees will receive an express masterclass in
crafting and confidently sharing their own story, helping them to harness storytelling as a tool for
personal and professional growth. This is available as a 1hr interactive talk or a 2hr workshop session.

Key Takeaways:

  • How authentic storytelling leads to stronger connections and career opportunities
  • Toni’s journey from corporate success to launching a mission-driven organisation
  • The power of optimism and positivity in shaping professional narratives
  • A dynamic interactive element, where attendees create and share their own compelling stories

It’s Too Risky! – The Power of Mindset Shifts

Fear is often the greatest barrier to growth—but what if you could reframe it as fuel for success? In
this dynamic keynote, Toni empowers audiences to challenge limiting beliefs, embrace change with
confidence, and take decisive action. Attendees will learn Toni’s C.H.A.N.G.E. method, a practical
framework for overcoming doubt and making empowered decisions. With clear, memorable insights
and an optional worksheet takeaway, this session equips professionals to turn uncertainty into
momentum. This session can be delivered as a 1hr interactive talk or a 2hr workshop.

Key Takeaways:

  • Understanding how fear holds us back and how to reframe it
  • Introducing Toni’s C.H.A.N.G.E. method for decision-making and overcoming doubt
  • Practical, memorable strategies to embrace change with confidence
  • Actionable steps that can be applied immediately in professional and personal contexts
  • Optional takeaway worksheet to reinforce learning and implementation

I Belong Here! – Overcoming Imposter Syndrome & Taking Up Space

Corporate spaces can feel intimidating—especially for those who don’t fit the traditional mold.
Drawing from her own journey as a woman from a low socio-economic background, Toni delivers an
empowering keynote on stepping into your worth and owning your ambitions with confidence.
Whether it’s voicing career aspirations, negotiating opportunities, or challenging ingrained beliefs,
this session equips attendees with the mindset shifts and practical steps needed to navigate any
environment with certainty and presence.

Key Takeaways:

  • How societal conditioning affects confidence and career ambition
  • Strategies to step into your worth and challenge limiting beliefs
  • Practical ways to voice ambitions, negotiate opportunities, and take up space
  • Toni’s personal insights from navigating corporate spaces and high-profile stages
  • Mindset shifts and actionable steps to feel empowered in any environment

Official Feedback from In-person & Virtual Events

"A phenomenal MC" – June Sarpong MBE

"Super professional and funny" - EQT Partners

"Funny, quirky, risqué and provoking in the best possible way" - International Association of Microsoft Certified Partners

"Exceeded my expectations in every way. Engaging and authentic, with humour - she suggested ways the team could think about things differently." - Amazon Web Services

“I have to say, if you’re looking for someone who can deliver a practical and thought-provoking message that engages all participants – I would thoroughly recommend Toni!” – Samantha Lowe, ForHousing

“Has the ability to bring humour into all situations, read her audience and choose topics that resonate” - Sarah Burns MBE, Founder, Smart Works Reading

“Carried the event with warmth, passion and humour” - Aduke Onafowokan, Founder, The Sister Sister Global Network

"Toni brought to life the very difficult topic of social mobility and class; colleagues commented afterwards how much they enjoyed her talk" - James Peacock, Social Mobility Employee Network Founder, Direct Line Group

“A phenomenal MC”- June Sarpong MBE 

“Smart, insightful, very funny with a brilliant delivery” - Claire Heyes, CEO, Corgi Technical Services

"A speaker who manages to lift the audience and change perspectives” - Helen Freestone, Manager, UK SI Partners, Amazon Web Services

"Authentic storytelling at its finest. Thought-provoking, insightful, serious in the right places with the perfect amount of humour, yet also hugely inspiring” – Sarah Howson, Founder, Strategic PA Network

“Toni compered a virtual event for one of our tech clients and she was a dream to deal with. A fun professional to work with who understood what was required without too much of a brief!” – Amanda Morris

“Toni’s speech brought to life the saying “when you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change” – Bugewa Apampa, Professor and Dean, Office for Institutional Equity, University of East London

"Toni did brilliantly at the Conference. She got great feedback from our delegates, who found her inspirational and left with food for thought. It was lovely that she also stayed for the dinner and was able to chat with delegates after the presentation." - British Coatings Federation

“Thank you so much for joining us. It was amazing to see the level of engagement and messages I’ve had from colleagues this afternoon saying how great the session was.” - Financial Ombudsman

"I've been wanting to see you in action, Toni - totally worth the wait - a unique and flawless one woman show. We were absolutely mesmerised!" - Marie Broad - DLA Piper

How to hire Toni Kent

Contact the Champions Speakers Agency to provisionally enquire about hiring Toni Kent for your next event, today. To get in touch, simply call an official booking agent on 0207 1010 553 or email us at [email protected] for more information.

** We do NOT accept requests for autographs, signed merchandise, fan mail, birthday messages or any other non-commercial contact with the speakers or acts. Each speaker on the website may not have necessarily worked with Champions in the past but are known to perform such engagements within the industry.